Xiaomi / MIUI

If you have read one of our several reviews of Xiaomi phones, such as the Mi Note 2 and Mi 6, you'll know that the software experience just isn't good. MIUI is Xiaomi's heavily modified version of Android, complete with less-than-stellar RAM and Bluetooth management (among other issues). But the ROM has several major security problems, as found by research firm eScan.

It wasn't too long ago that I took a look at the Xiaomi Mi 6, a diminutive, power-packed device that felt limited and restrained by its software. But now we are taking a firm step into tablet territory (or "phablet") with this monstrosity: the Xiaomi Mi Max 2. Following up on last year's Mi Max, the second version is huge, but it comes with an equally large battery that makes the phone almost impossible to kill, especially when compared to some of the top-tier 2017 flagships.

Sales figures for the second quarter of the year are in and it would be fair to say the smartphone industry is in rude health. According to research from Strategy Analytics, global shipments saw solid growth, up 6% year-on-year to 360.4 million. While Samsung and Apple predictably held on to first and second spots in the manufacturer rankings, Chinese challengers Xiaomi, Huawei, and Oppo recorded significant gains as they worked to close the gap.

MIUI has been, up to this point, pretty polarizing. Xiaomi's Android "skin" has its fans (and staunch fanboys), and it has its critics (and haters). I have never found myself enjoying the very custom take on Android, mainly due to a few annoyances that have persisted through versions. In my Mi 6 review, I said that it was time for the software to get a refresh, and it looks like Xiaomi has made an attempt to do just that. Cue MIUI 9.

Xiaomi's phones are traditionally great value for money, and with the unveiling of the company's latest smartphone, there don't seem to be any plans to change that. The Mi 5X, despite its very iPhone-inspired looks, packs some impressive hardware inside for its 1499 RMB price. Xiaomi also announced the new Mi AI speaker, which takes aim at products like Google Home and Amazon Alexa.

Nokia and Xiaomi, two widely known and renowned companies, announced today that they were signing a business cooperation and patent licensing agreement. It's not uncommon to see joint ventures between corporations, but these two seem like an unlikely pair at first glance.

Xiaomi has an interesting history that I recommend you read up on if you don’t already know it. The company, while known to mostly enthusiasts here in the States, has a huge presence in its homeland China, as well as India and other parts of Southeast Asia. Despite a general decline in size and influence in the past year or two, Xiaomi continues to push the envelope of affordable, feature-packed phones. The Mi line represents the best that the manufacturer has to offer. For 2017, Xiaomi has created the Mi 6, a small phone full of the latest and greatest specs.

As great as LineageOS and other ROMs are, they wouldn't be possible without a custom recovery available for the device. TWRP is usually pretty quick to support new devices, with older phones and tablets being added to the list frequently too. Since our last post, TWRP has added support for 17 more devices, including the LeEco Le Pro 3 and Xiaomi Mi 6.

Have you ever walked through a mall and passed by the Apple store and stared longingly at the iPad Mini and thought to yourself, "Man, I sure wish I could buy one of those that ran Android"?

Well, I have some (kinda) good news for you. Today I'm reviewing the Xiaomi Mi Pad 3, a 7.9in Chinese tablet that has no shame in borrowing a healthy dose of design cues from a certain fruit logo-bearing competitor. For better or worse, the Mi Pad 3 looks an awful lot like an iPad Mini in Android clothing. Is it as good, or better than the tablet it is imitating?

I find myself constantly impressed with the LineageOS community. Formed from the remains of CyanogenMod, the project has continued to add support for new devices and maintain most of CM's library. Since our last post, Lineage has added support for a handful of Xiaomi phones and updated the Wi-Fi Nexus 9 to LOS 14.1.